Thursday, July 28, 2016

Richard Thompson, 1957 - 2016

I began reading Richard Thompson's Cul de Sac toward the end of its run. I had started seeing a lot about it after Thompson won the Reuben for best cartoonist in 2011 and decided to check it out. Like everyone else, I fell in love with it and was saddened to see it come to an end in 2012 due to Thompson's battle with Parkinson's disease. Sadly, Thompson passed away yesterday at the age of 58. He had spent his retirement from cartooning advocating for a cure to Parkinson's. He worked with other cartoonists to get donations and funding and was even able to get reclusive Calvin and Hobbes creator Bill Watterson to not only re-enter the public spotlight but paint a portrait of Thompson's character Petey Otterloop.

Thompson had the rare distinction of being placed with Charles Schulz and Watterson as one of the most inspirational cartoonists of our time. Cul de Sac was as highly regarded as Peanuts and the art as unique as Calvin and Hobbes. It is sad that we won't be able to see Thompson triumphantly come out of retirement but we are glad that he is out of pain and that he may rest in peace.

The first Cul de Sac strip. September 10, 2007.

The last Cul de Sac strip. September 23, 2012.

The Lockhorns

Leroy and Loretta sure do like to smash things. Yesterday, it was the car. Today, the washing machine. I can only assume that Leroy is carrying the dryer someplace to throw it off a cliff.

Beetle Bailey

Why is it taking Beetle so long to realize that his watch isn't under there? His bed is the only thing in a twenty foot radius. You can literally stand five feet away and see everything under and around that bed.

Mark Trail

Pfft. I'm from Kansas and we have people greeting us by blowing conch shells as you drive up to our hotels too.